Changes to free parking hours in Great Ostry car park

Free parking in Great Ostry car park in Shepton Mallet is to be limited to three hours on Fridays to help shoppers who want to visit the town's market.

Free all-day parking on Fridays was originally introduced in the town centre car park to help make visiting the market as easy as possible.

However, it has become clear that many people are using the car park on Fridays to leave their vehicle all day, not for a quick trip to the market and local shops, and this has limited the number spaces available for shoppers.

As a result, as of Friday 6 October 2017 free parking in Great Ostry will be limited to the hours of 10am - 1pm every Friday. It is hoped this will still give shoppers plenty of time to visit the market, while deterring those drivers who park all day.

Cllr Nigel Taylor, Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhood and Community Health Services, said: "We have taken on board comments we have received and adjusted the parking times in the hope that it will make it easier for shoppers to visit Shepton Mallet.

"There will still be three hours' free parking, between 10am and 1pm, every Friday, which should give people plenty of time to visit the market and local shops. At the same time, we're confident the new time restrictions will deter many all-day parkers and free up additional spaces for shoppers.

"Shepton's weekly market takes place every Friday from 9am - 2pm, so why not come along and browse the stalls and visit the town's varied shops to treat yourself or find that perfect gift?"